Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics)
ObjectivesCSU’s Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) is designed to prepare graduates to work as dietitians, in answer to the growing recognition of the importance of nutrition to public health.
Academic titleBachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics)
Course descriptionBachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) (Honours)
BHlthSc(Nutrit&Dietet)(Hons)
About the course
A growing community and government concern with the health of Australians and the role of nutrition has raised the profile of the work of dietitians and their importance to public health. A demand exists for dietitians in rural communities and a range of research studies and professional literature indicates a need for a rural perspective to dietitian education.
Charles Sturt University’s Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) program is the first of its kind offered outside a metropolitan area in Australia.
Themes of the course include rural health and remote and indigenous communities’ special health care needs. The Nutrition and Dietetics course has a strong nutrition and dietetics, biomedical sciences and food science focus.
Where it will take you
Graduates work professionally as dietitians in a range of clinical, private practice and industry settings.
You can work in areas including:
* nutrition assessment and management/clinical practice
* food service administration
* research and training
* nutrition education
* community and public health/public health nutrition
* private practice
* food industry
Your course is recognised by industry
The Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) degree received accreditation by the Board of the Dietitians’ Association of Australia (DAA) in 2007. As a result of this accreditation, all graduates of the Bachelor degree are now eligible to apply for DAA membership with Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) status.
Professionals teaching you professional skills
The course is taught by dedicated professionals with a wide range of industry experience.
The latest facilities
To make sure you are experienced in using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:
* science laboratories in the School of Biomedical Sciences
* food science laboratories
* commercial food preparation laboratory
* computer laboratories
* campus-based Nutrition Clinic
Hands-on experience
One of the strengths of the Charles Sturt University course is the early exposure to the dietetic professions from year one, with site visits associated with the subjects Nutrition and Dietetics, and Food and Health. In addition, there are clinical/fieldwork components associated with subjects Clinical Nutrition and Assessment, Community Public Health Nutrition, Nutrition and Dietetics Residency and Food Service, Practice and Management.
Students from year three onwards participate in the on campus Nutrition Clinic. Dietitians on staff see clients who are referred from the local community with a range of conditions requiring dietary management. Currently, the University has a co-joint appointment with Canberra Hospital that provides a significant number of clinical and community placements for final year students.
Practical experience
Students complete 20 weeks of professional practice in hospital, community and food service settings.
Honours stream
Students considering a future career in research are able to undertake an integrated honours program. The program is open to students with a credit average or above in the first two years of the course. Students will be supported by workshops and tutorials during the third and fourth year of the course as they undertake a research project under the supervision of a supervisor.
Graduation requirements
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 256 points, including achieving a Pass grade or above in all subjects that have a clinical placement. Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) with the award BHlthSc(Nutrit&Dietet).
Clinical requirements
Refer to the Clinical Requirements section following for information on:
* Senior First Aid Certificate
* Criminal Record Clearance
* Immunisation
Please note that the Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) has a clinical practicum in the first six months. As the hepatitis B immunisation takes six months for full vaccination, it is recommended that students commence immunisation as soon as possible in order to undertake clinical placement.
Further study
Charles Sturt University offers a number of postgraduate courses in the health science and health management areas. These include:
* Doctor of Philosophy
* Doctor of Health Science
* Master of Health Science (Honours)
* Master of Health Services Management
* Graduate Diploma of Health Services Management
* Graduate Certificate in Health Services Management
* Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education